National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

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called Dung Jigda Bulâk,* where a little water was oozing from the ground indicating a spring which, with the presence of a " jigda" or wild olive tree, gave the place its name. On over the plain, which in summer would have been pretty enough, but now was dried up and desolate. The forest ceased within about two miles of our camp at Jai Tupa, which was marked by a clump of trees standing conspicuously on an eminence above the plain. We reached it about dusk, after a march of fully 32 miles, through a very heavy sandy road which so delayed the mules carrying our baggage, that they did not arrive till eight o'clock the next morning, having stopped over night, exhausted in the jungle, about five miles short of our camp. Fortunately, we found an old Kirghiz Musjid, in which we went dinnerless to bed, protected, however, from the wind, and from the snow which fell during the night. The officials at the head-quarters' camp had assured us that we should find Kirghiz and supplies at this place, but there were neither one nor the other, and the Diwan Begi,t who accompanied us, spent his whole night (after his day's ride) in. going over to the village of Karghil beforemeutioned, and bunting up Kirghiz, with whom he returned about daybreak, bringing supplies for man and beast, both of whom had fasted for at least 24 hours. It snowed all the morning, but about noon we pushed on about five miles in a north-east direction to a Kirghiz camp called Jigda, where we obtained further supplies. Snow and clouds prevented our seeing any of the hills around. The forest recommenced about half way between Jai Ttipa and Jigda.

The following day (23rd) we pushed on for 22 miles to Ui Bulâk, having obtained from the Kirghiz two or three camel loads of grain and other supplies for our future consumption, as we were told we should not come across any more habitations. Just before starting we felt a slight shock of an earthquake, the only- one I have noticed during our stay in Turkestan. Our general direction was now north-east. About two inches of snow lay on the ground, and more was constantly falling. After five miles, we saw a low ridge on our right, running parallel to the road, at a distance of about six miles. At its base in what was apparently the lowest part of the valley, was a strip of forest, a portion of the large one that extends right away to beyond Kyr Bulâk, a distance of at least 32 miles. Although long, this forest is comparatively narrow, varying, as far as I could judge, from half mile to two or three miles in breadth. The southerly ridge beforementioned is said to extend easterly to Kâlpin (about 15 tash) $ a village between Ûsh Tûrfân and Maralbâshi, and to be about five tash from the latter place. At Kâlpin, like other ranges that I have traced, it gets lost in the level plain.

Our road now lay through low jungle (balgûn) with little or no grass, and at about 12 miles from camp, we reached the limit of the plain and ascended a low spur running from the main range ; ground bare and stony. Following this spur in a north-east direction we crossed into an open ravine, about half a mile broad. Ascending it for a short distance we arrived at our camp, near which there was a good deal of grass and plenty of fire-wood. Thermometer at night down to zero.

The next day was fortunately very fine, for we had a hard though interesting journey before us. Leaving our servants and baggage ponies behind at Ui Bulâk, Dr. Stoliczka and myself continued our journey in a north-east direction, ascending the ravine, for about eight miles the road way very stony, and some inches deep in snow. Near the head of the ravine we crossed a low pass on a spur from the main range. Descending on the other side we crossed the lower slopes of the main range, passing along which for two or three miles, we came upon another large plain about six miles broad lying between two long spurs. On the

further side of this plain, at Tigarek, we had the good luck to come unexpectedly across a Kirghiz encampment, belonging to Ûsh Tûrfân. Leaving the " Dah-bâshi,"§ who accompanied us as escort, to make preparations for our dinner, we procured a Kirghiz guide and started to try and reach before dark the Belowti Pass, which is on the main range that separates the

drainage of the ground we had been traversing from that of the Aksai or Kokshâl river, which, rising east of Chadyr-kul, flows nearly due east to fish Tûrfân and Aksn. A march of nine

* In Turki Buldk is the equivalent for spring.

t The designation of the official who was deputed to make arrangements for our party.

* A tash here is taken at five miles, but in many parts it scarcely exceeds four miles. See note to

Route XII of Section G. of Geographical Appendix.—T. D. F.

§ Or " Commander of ten (soldiers)."